How to beat Raid Bosses in Pokémon Go: Best counters, movesets, and tips!

Pokémon Go Raid Battle's are here and with them, Raid Bosses. These super high CV — 35,000 CP Tyranitar, anyone? — take over Gyms and then take on all comers, in groups of up to 20, for an hour at a time. If you can beat one you get rewards in the form of Golden Razz Berries, Quick and Charge TM, Rare Candy — and a chance to catch a regular-powered version of the Boss, similar to what you'd get by hatching it from an egg.

But some Gym bosses are really tough to beat. They start off relatively easy at Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3, but Tier 4 and Tier 5 bosses can be nightmares. Legendary nightmares even!

November 4, 2017: Pokémon Go has changed Raid Bosses. Finally.

Pokémon Go has just changed most of the RaId Bosses in the game. We've been waiting for this for a while... but it's not exactly what we hoped for. Here's the new normal:

Tier 1

Ivysaur

Charmelon

Wartortle

Metapod

Tier 2

Sandslash

Tenacruel

Magneton

Cloyster

Marwak

Sableye

Tier 3

Ninetales

Alakazam

Machamp

Gengar

Scyther

Polygon

Omastar

Tier 4

Nidoqueen

Nidoking

Poliwrath

Victreebel

Golem

Lapras

Snorlax

Tyranitar

We'll update the best counters list below as soon as we've had some time to test everything out!

What are the best counters for Raid Bosses in Pokémon Go?

There are a lot of computer simulations and a lot of human experience behind the various Pokémon Go lists out there. I'm a level 40 player and I've participated in over 700 Battle Raids, including over 500 Legendary Raid Battles. My list is based on looking over all the simulations, testing out the recommendations, and seeing what works for me in a variety of play styles — and under a variety of the bugs that occur in real-world Raid Battles.

What I've found is that, due to how hard Charge Moves from Raid Bosses are to dodge, and how glitchy the Pokémon Go servers are in general, that high DSP, ideally type-matched, but fragile Pokémon like Gengar or Scizor just don't last long enough to prove useful.

Also, because Stardust, Technical Machines (TM) and other resources are scarce, Pokémon that can be used against several Raid Bosses, like Tyranitar and Golem are more efficient than unitaskers who're only useful against one, like Piloswine.

If you don't have these Pokémon, try to get them from Raid Battles. For example, getting Alakazam will help you get Machamp will help you get Tyranitar, which will help you get the Legendaries.

If you have them but don't have the right movesets, try to change them with TMs. If you absolutely can't get them or get enough of them, use Pokémon of the same type and similar movesets. It's not ideal but sometimes you have to dance with the Pokémon you have.

How do you beat a Tier 1 Raid Boss in Pokémon Go?

Tier 1 Raid Bosses are typically base-level or second evolution Pokémon and aren't at al overwhelming. Higher level players with higher power Pokémon should be able to take them solo. Still, know your counters:

How do you beat a Tier 2 Raid Boss in Pokémon Go?

Tier 2 Raid Bosses are second evolutions, including evolutions of baby Pokémon and start to get tougher. Very high level players with very powerful counters can probably still take them solo but they're much easier with a friend.

Raid Boss

Best counter

Other counters

Muk

Rhydon or Golem (Mud Slap + Earthquake)

Lugia (Extrasensory + Future Sight)

Exeggutor

Moltres, Entei, or Flareon (Fire Spin + Overheat)

Scizor or Pinsir (Fury Cutter + X-Scissor)

Weezing

Rhydon or Golem (Mud Slap + Earthquake)

Lugia (Extrasensory + Future Sight)

Electabuzz

Rhydon or Golem (Mud Slap + Earthquake)

Tyranitar (Bite + Stone Edge)

Magmar

Rhydon or Golem (Mud Slap + Earthquake)

Vaporeon (Hydro Pump)

How do you beat a Tier 3 Raid Boss in Pokémon Go?

Tier 3 is where it starts to get difficult. They're either third evolutions or Evee-lutions. If you face off against a Vaporeon with a bad moveset, a super high-level player with super powerful counters can still eek out a win. If you score a Machamp with Counter + Dynamic Punch, call a friend or two.

How do you beat a Tier 4 Raid Boss in Pokémon Go?

Here's where things get serious. Tier 4 Raid Bosses are tough. They're third evolutions of starters, dominators like Tyranitar or Rhydon, or singular powerhouses like Lapras or Snorlax. To beat them you'll need your best and most powerful Pokémon, and at least four to eight friends.

How do you beat a Tier 5 Raid Boss in Pokémon Go?

Tier 5 Raids have so far consisted of the Legendary Birds, Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno, and their leader, Lugia, and currently the Legendary Beasts, Raikou, Entei, and Suikune, plus a brief period of Mewtwo. And, as you'd expect, they're extra tough to take down. But not incredibly so.